More Playing Time for Patterson? Sounds Like It

The Vikings scored three touchdowns and 24 total points in Detroit during their season-opening loss. While 24 points would often times be enough to win a game in the NFL, those who watched the Vikings offense on Sunday realize it could use a little boost.

Could Cordarrelle Patterson be the source of that boost? He's looked explosive nearly every time he's touched the ball. He returned the opening kickoff of the preseason 50 yards and then caught four passes for 54 yards later in the game. In Detroit, he caught a screen pass and darted 10 yards toward the goal line nearly scoring a touchdown and later in the game was just a sholace tackle away from returning a kickoff for a touchdown.

But the rookie receiver saw limited action in his first game as a pro, and it sounds like the Vikings may look to get their flashy rookie a bit more involved going forward, a development the fan base will appreciate.

“We’re going to try to get him a few more snaps,” Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier said on Monday during his customary day-after-the-game press conference.

Frazier quickly followed with another comment, too, pointing out that it was difficult for the coaching staff to utilize its playmakers properly when the offense couldn’t sustain drives and stay on the field.

“But we have to get a few more first downs so we can stay on the field a little bit longer with our offense. But we want to get him more snaps for sure,” Frazier said.

Frazier’s point about the offense needing to stay on the field in order for the team’s playmakers to have a chance to, well, make plays, is a good one. The Vikings didn’t construct a drive of longer than four plays until the 3rd quarter, so there wasn’t exactly a lot of opportunity to rotate receivers in and out to spread out the playing time.

If the Vikings can correct some issues and sustain drives, expect Patterson to be more involved in the operation. The trigger man of the Vikings offense – quarterback Christian Ponder – clearly recognizes the impact his rookie receiver can have.

“Cordarrelle is a guy that is extremely explosive,” Ponder said. “He’s a young guy, he’s going to learn a lot from Greg and some of the other veteran guys we have on this team, and he’s going to be a weapon that we’re definitely going to use all season.”